Just FYI, I have been working with this mechanic for a while on this problem and we're stumped. I cannot see the plane, so maybe something has been lost in the translation, but the way I understand it is the plane, when taxied on a flat, smooth surface, wonders back and forth about 20 feet in either direction, fairly regularly, with no corresponding control input, and in the absence of any significant crosswind.
That said, we're open to any ideas. John Cooper Skyport Services 518 797-3064 www.skyportservices.net _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Maden Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 3:22 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Taxiing as if intoxicated Gentle people, I am in the process of acquiring a newly refurbished 415c but the mechanic has run into a problem while taxi testing the aircraft at a moderate speed. The ac has a dual fork nose gear and the tire is "new" as far as flying goes, but the tire has been on a hanger queen for approximately 5 years. It has no obvious deformity. When taxiing, with the control wheel held in the centered position, the plane will very gradually deviate from taxiway center line to the left and then to the right. The deviations are not minor in degree, but the ac has not (yet) departed the taxiway. All the linkages from the control wheel to the fork and nose wheel have been checked and are tight. The rigging has been checked and is all ok. This item is holding theup flight testing. I certainly hate to think of the landing roll out with faster speeds with the nose gear in its present state. The tires are going to be re-examined tonight but if the problem does not reside there, the mechanic is at the end of his rope. Any comments or ideas? _____ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http:/www.yahoo.com/r/hs> your homepage.
